U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe moved this week to reauthorize a government program aimed at retrofitting older diesel engines all in the name of reducing air pollution.
He and Democratic Senators Tom Carper of Delaware and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island joined with Wyoming GOP Sen. John Barrasso to introduce the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2017.
“DERA has upgraded nearly 73,000 diesel-powered vehicles equipment in a voluntary and cost-effective manner, all the while creating manufacturing jobs and reducing real risks caused by air pollution,” said Sen. Inhofe in filing the measure.
DERA was created 10 years ago and the Senators maintain that retrofitting the older diesel engines has provided enormous environmental and public health benefits.
“DERA has been one of the most cost-effective clean air programs with an average of $13 in health and economic benefits for every $1 put into the program,” said Senator Carper.
The bill as proposed by the Senators would reauthorize DERA through fiscal year 2022.